Easter Island - Ten Geographic Facts By Amanda Briney Updated November 30, 2016. Easter Island , also called Rapa Nui, is a small island located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean that is considered a special territory of Chile . Easter Island is most famous for its large moai statues that were carved by native peoples between 1250 and 1500. The island is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and much of the island's land belongs to the Rapa Nui National Park. Easter Island has recently been in the news because many scientists and writers have used it as a metaphor for our planet. Easter Island's native population is believed to have overused its natural resources and collapsed. Some scientists and writers claim that global climate change and resource exploitation may lead to the planet collapsing as did the population on Easter Island. These claims, however, are highly disputed. The following is a list of the ten most important geographic facts to know about Easter Island: 1) Although scientists do not know for sure, many claim that human habitation of Easter Island began around 700-1100 C.E.

continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge Almost immediately upon its initial settlement the population of Easter Island began to grow and the island's inhabitants (Rapanui) began to build houses and moai statues. The moai are believed to represent status symbols of the different Easter Island tribes. 2) Because of Easter Island's small size of only 63 square miles (164 sq km), it quickly became overpopulated and its resources were rapidly depleted. When Europeans arrived on Easter Island between the late 1700s and early 1800s, it was reported that the moai were knocked down and the island seemed to have been a recent war-site. 3) Constant warfare between tribes, a lack of supplies and resources, disease, invasive species and the opening of the island to foreign slave trade eventually led to Easter Island's collapse by the 1860s. 4) In 1888, Easter Island was annexed by Chile. Use of the island by Chile varied but during the 1900s it was a sheep farm and was managed by the Chilean Navy.

In 1966, the entire island was opened to the public and the remaining Rapanui people became citizens of Chile. 5) As of 2009, Easter Island had a population of 4,781. The official languages of the island are Spanish and Rapa Nui, while the main ethnic groups are Rapanui, European and Amerindian. 6) Because of its archaeological remains and its ability to help scientists study early human societies, Easter Island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1995. 7) Although it is still inhabited by humans, Easter Island is one of the world's most isolated islands. It is approximately 2,180 miles (3,510 km) west of Chile. Easter Island is also relatively small and has a maximum altitude of only 1,663 feet (507 meters). Easter Island also has no permanent source of freshwater. 8) Easter Island's climate is considered subtropical maritime. It has mild winters and year-round cool temperatures and abundant precipitation.

The lowest average July temperature on Easter Island is around 64°F (18°C) while its highest temperatures are in February and average about 82°F (28°C). 9) Like many Pacific Islands, the physical landscape of Easter Island is dominated by volcanic topography and it was formed geologically by three extinct volcanoes. 10) Easter Island is considered a distinct eco-region by ecologists. At the time of its initial colonization, the island is believed to have been dominated by large broadleaf forests and palm. Today, however, Easter Island has very few trees and is mainly covered with grasses and shrubs. To learn more about Easter Island visit Easter Island at Archaeology at About.com. References: Diamond, Jared. 2005. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin Books: New York, New York . "Easter Island." (March 13, 2010). Wikipedia. Retrieved from: "Rapa Nui National Park." (March 14, 2010). UNESCO World Heritage .

Retrieved from: Rapa Nui Map of Easter Island Chile and Easter Island Map and Information - World Atlas Easter Island Description Easter Island History Rapa Nui, or Easter Island as it is known today, is a Polynesian island positioned in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 3,510 km (2,180 mi) west of continental Chile . Easter Island is one of the world's most isolated inhabited islands, with its nearest inhabited neighbor (Pitcairn Island), located some 2,075 km (1,289.35 mi) to the west. Its history is captivating and mysterious to this day mainly because of the nearly 900 (still surviving) monumental statues, called Moai, created by the early Rapanui people. Over the centuries Easter Island and its durable inhabitants lived through colonialism, epidemics, food shortages, internal wars and slave raids....and they still survive. Archaeologists believe that the initial inhabitants arrived between 700–1000, and they journeyed here in canoes or catamarans from the Marquesas Islands of Polynesia. Important remnants of that culture are the massive Moai statues, reportedly representing deified ancestors.

Most early settlements were located along the coastline and Moai were erected there so they could watch over their descendants, with their backs toward the spirit world in the sea. Like most cultures. as population increased different factions surfaced, and internal war was inevitable. On Easter Sunday, 1722, Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen arrived, named it Easter Island. He later reported the island was lined with massive stone statues. In 1770 that was still the case when two Spanish ships sailed in. Captain Felipe Gonzalez y Haedo claimed Easter Island for Spain and renamed it San Carlos. He also reported the island lined with statues When James Cook visited in 1774, he noted that several Moai were lying face down. History reports that Moai toppling continued into the 1820s because of fierce internal fighting, and the British ship HMS Blossom reported seeing no standing statues in 1825 In the 1860s slave raiders from Peru captured 1,500 men and women, half of the island's population. Later those same raiders spread smallpox to the island; a disease that eventually caused a fatal epidemic in the Marquesas islands.

A few years later, tuberculosis, introduced by whalers, killed 25% of the remaining population. In the following years, the managers of a sheep ranch and missionaries started buying the newly available lands of the deceased, and this led to great confrontations between natives and settlers. In the 1870s, because of unsolveable disputes, missionaries evacuated most of the Rapanui population to the Gambier islands. By the end of the decade a mere 100 people lived on the island, and much of its cultural knowledge had been lost. Easter Island was annexed by Chile on September 9, 1888, and the validity of that land grab is still contested by some of the Rapanui to this day. At that time the surviving Rapanui were confined to the settlement of Hanga Roa. The rest of the island was rented to the Williamson-Balfour Company as a sheep farm. In 1914 British citizen Katherine Routeledge visited for a yearlong expedition. It was the first in-depth study of local artifacts and inhabitants. She and her team found connections between elders’ tattoos and the Moai.

She detailed the clan system in a 1919 book called "The Mystery of Easter Island" In the mid-1950s Thor Heyerdahl organized the Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island. After several months on the island the expedition published two large volumes of scientific reports In 1995 an airport was constructed and the island was then managed by the Chilean Navy. In 1966, Chile declared Easter Island a province and the Rapanui given Chilean citizenship Today tourism is the major industry, and although isolated and a bit difficult to reach, thousands visit here to experience for themselves the culture and mystery that is Easter Island. Easter Island — By No owner — last modified Mar 21, 2016 05:05 PM Easter Island - Profile Facts Lying at the south-eastern point of the Polynesian triangle, yachts increasingly call at this isolated island the South American coast is over 2000 miles away while its nearest neighbour is tiny Pitcairn, 1200 miles to the west. Easter Island, or Isla de Pascua, belongs to Chile and is also known by its Polynesian name Rapa Nui.

There is good protection inside the small harbour at Hanga Piko, on the west coast, but access is difficult without local knowledge and the port captain insists that a local pilot is employed, who will charge about $US100 for his services. The anchorage off the main settlement of Hanga Roa is open but sheltered from the prevailing south-easterly winds. If the wind turns, one can move to Anakena Bay, site of some of the most interesting excavations and statues on the island, or to Huituiti in the east. Swell is a problem in all these anchorages. Tourism, fishing, agriculture and on-going archeological studies are the primary activities of the island. The 3500 inhabitants, most of whom are Rapa Nui of Polynesian descent, live around Hanga Roa, the only town. A different way to visit the island is to fly from/to Papeete, thus leaving your boat safely in Tahiti while enjoying a visit to the island. Approximately thirty yachts visit Easter Island every year. Weather From October to April the SE trades prevail.

The summer, mid-November to mid-February, is when winds tend to be lighter and the seas calmer. May to September are the rainier and colder months, when westerlies predominate. The island falls outside the cyclone belt. The climate is subtropical, with an average temperature of 20C (15C-27C) and the mean humidity is 77%. The coolest months are July & August. The month averaging the highest average rainfall is May. WX reports are available 3 times a day by listening or calling the port captain's office on VHF CH 16 (Spanish, French & English spoken). Wind changes will be announced so you can move your boat to a safe side of the island in time. Easter Island Encyclopedia > Places > Australia and Oceania > Pacific Islands Political Geography Easter Island Easter Island, Span. Isla de Pascua, Polynesian Rapa Nui, remote island (1992 pop. 2,770), 66 sq mi (171 sq km), in the South Pacific, c.2,200 mi (3,540 km) W of Chile, to which it belongs.

Of volcanic origin, Easter Island is mostly covered with grasslands and is swept by strong trade winds. About half of the inhabitants are of Polynesian stock; the rest are mainly more recent settlers from the Chilean mainland. The increasing non-Polynesian population led in 2010–11 to Polynesian protests in favor of autonomy and immigration restrictions and clashes with security forces. Farming and sheep raising are the principal occupations; wool is the only export. Chile regards the island as an integral part of the mainland, not as a colony, and the island forms a province and (since 2007) a special territory in the Valparaiso region. The inhabitants are citizens of Chile but do not pay taxes and are not subject to military conscription. A Chilean naval officer is governor, and a mayor and council of elders have a voice in local matters but no power to raise revenues. There have been sporadic campaigns for the island's independence, and an independence movement exists. It is unclear when the isolated island was settled by Polynesian voyagers, but recent estimates date their arrival to as early c.A.D. 800 or as late as c.A.D. 1200.

Easter Island was named on Easter Day, 1722, by the Dutch navigator Jakob Roggeven. At that time the population was about 4,000, down from perhaps 9,000 two centuries earlier, probably because of overuse of sparse resources. The spread of European diseases, especially smallpox, and the raids of Spanish slavers reduced the population to slightly more than 100 by 1887. Chilean annexation in 1888 led to stabilization. Easter Island has long been famous for its hieroglyphs and for hundreds of remarkable monolithic stone heads ( moais ) whose origin and meaning have been widely debated. Carved from soft volcanic tufa, the statues are from 10 to 40 ft (3–12 m) high, some weighing over 50 tons. Regarding the origin and culture of the builders of these monuments, one formerly popular theory is that of Thor Heyerdahl , that fair-skinned invaders from the East carved the monoliths, and that later (c.1680) the present Polynesians conquered the island, unleashing violent strife leading to near extinction of the population.

Now generally accepted, however, is the conclusion of French ethnologist Alfred Métreaux that the statues are no more than 500–600 years old and that they were built by the Polynesian ancestors of the present inhabitants. DNA samples taken from the oldest bones found on the island reveal Polynesian characteristics. Among other ideas now debunked are those connecting Easter Island with Egyptian or Hindu cultures or making it the remnant of a "lost continent." The entire island is now a national park. See studies by J. Dos Passos (1971) and J. A. Van Tilburg (1994). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Easter Island: the navel of the world | This is Chile Tourism NEWS Easter Island: the navel of the world Set in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Chile’s Rapa Nui is a gem for history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike with archaeological wonders and stunning landscapes.

Wednesday 03 August, 2011 | Tourism Versión en Español Isla de Pascua Far from the rest of the world and close to paradise, Easter Island is well known for its extinct volcanoes, pristine beaches and the enormous stone statues called moais that attract thousands of international visitors each year. Situated more than 2,000 miles to the west of mainland Chile, the small island is a 70 square mile speck in the Pacific Ocean. The island is home to a Polynesian culture that dates back at least 1,700 years. In 300 AD, the first migrants arrived on the island, bringing with them a long cultural history preserved in myths and legends that are still being handed down today. The island’s 5,000 inhabitants have a rich heritage based on their native language, festivals and traditional songs and dances. The first European to arrive at Easter Island was Jakob Roggeveen, who landed on Easter Sunday in 1722, giving the island its name.

However, the natives call the island Rapa Nui, Te Pito o Te Henua, which means “the navel of the world.” In 1888, Policarpo Toro took possession of the island in the name of the Chilean government, and today it belongs to the country’s Valparaíso region. Easter Island provides many outdoor adventure options. Snorkeling and scuba diving, surfing, sailing, kayaking, horseback riding and trekking are all common activities on and around the island, which was formed by volcanic activity centuries ago. Visitors can easily access the island’s three extinct volcanoes, where they can hike down to the lagoons and lush vegetation nestled in their craters. The largest volcano is called Maunga Terevaka (1722 ft) and the other two are called El Poike (1154 ft) and Ranu Kau (1063 ft). Rapa Nui is considered by some to be the world’s largest outdoor museum. It was declared a National Park in 1935 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005.

Archaeological attractions There are close to 900 moais scattered throughout the island, along with a number of other interesting archaeological sites . The journey through these sites is an excellent opportunity to come into contact with the magical energy that emanates from Easter Island. Even today these places hold a special significance for the local community so it is recommended that visitors pay the greatest respect to the rules at each site. The locals ask people not to climb the ahus and moais and not to touch the rock carvings. Rano Raraku: Here you will find a hiking trail that leads to the moai factory, a rock quarry containing almost 400 statues in various stages of construction. The statue-making enterprise seems to have been abandoned suddenly in a puzzling mystery that continues to baffle archaeologists. Ahus: There are approximately 300 platforms or altars called ahus, scattered throughout the island, most of which are at least partially destroyed. The most important ahu sites are Vaihu, Akahanga, Heki’i, Raai, Te Peu and Vinapu, where visitors can see the remains of everyday human settlements complete with houses, caverns, stoves and henhouses.

Tahai-Ko Te Riku Complex: This site in the town of Hanga Roa contains stone houses, chicken coops, ceremonial sites, three moai platforms (Tahai, Vai Uri, Ko Te Riku), and a jetty built entirely of stone. Ahu Huri A Urenga: This site near the town of Hanga Roa has a single statue that looks toward the spot where the sun rises on the day of the winter solstice. This astronomical event marks not just the beginning of winter, or Tonga in the Rapa Nui language, but also a number of prohibitions and taboos surrounding fishing and other island activities Ahu Akivi: This is an archaeological complex with seven statues gazing toward the sunset over the sea. According to tradition, these seven moais represent the first Polynesian explorers who arrived on Rapa Nui after being sent out by King Hotu Matu’a. The Agu Akivi site was restored in 1960 by archaeologist William Mulloy. Ahu Ature Huki: Located on Anakena Beach, this site has an anthropomorphic statue that is believed to be among the oldest on the island.

Ahu Nau Nau: This site has seven well-preserved statues featuring details that are impossible to make out on other moais, such as tattoos. A moai from this site is currently on display at in the Easter Island Museum. Caverns and volcanoes Easter Island has many interesting geographical landmarks for the avid trekking enthusiast, including a number of fascinating caverns. The most popular caverns are Ana Te Pahu and Ana o Keke. Ana o Keke, which means the Cave of the Virgins, is a site that Rapa Nui brides used to visit in preparation for marriage. The cavern is located on the north face of Poike Mountain and can only be entered by crawling on your belly. Ana Te Pahu, on the eastern side of the island, has four large chambers that were used as rooms and ossuaries. The popular hike to Rano Kao Volcano is a full day excursion through eucalyptus forests until ascending to the crater and climbing down the inside to explore. Today the crater mouth is filled with native and introduced vegetation and unusual stone carvings. A second, less popular route to the volcano’s summit passes through a series of cliffs on the volcano’s north side.

Beaches Anakena and Ovahe: These are the only sand beaches on the island. Anakena is the main beach and with its sand, palm trees and warm, turquoise waters, it is a patch of paradise. Near the beach are two restored ahus and some camping sites. The smaller Ovahe beach is located to the east of Anakena. Surfing beaches: The main surfing beaches of Rapa Nui are Hanga Roa, Vaihu and Tahai. Hanga Roa has ideal waves for beginners and the island’s natives have been mastering waves here for centuries on a special type of body board called a haka nini. Vaihu has beautiful tubes. while Tahai gets the biggest waves on the island. This post is also available in Spanish Easter Island - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google Early Settlement The first human inhabitants of Rapa Nui (the Polynesian name for Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua) are believed to have arrived in an organized party of emigrants around 300-400 A.D.

Tradition holds that the first king of Rapa Nui was Hoto-Matua, a ruler from a Polynesian subgroup (possibly from the Marquesa Islands) whose ship traveled thousands of miles before landing at Anakena, one of the few sandy beaches on the island’s rocky coast. Did You Know? After the decline of the moai culture, a new cult of bird worship developed on Easter Island. It was centered on a ceremonial village called Orongo, built on the rim of the crater of the Rano Kao volcano. The greatest evidence for the rich culture developed by the original settlers of Rapa Nui and their descendants is the existence of nearly 900 giant stone statues that have been found in diverse locations around the island. Averaging 13 feet (4 meters) high, with a weight of 13 tons, these enormous stone busts–known as moai–were carved out of tuff (the light, porous rock formed by consolidated volcanic ash) and placed atop ceremonial stone platforms called ahus. It is still unknown precisely why these statues were constructed in such numbers and on such a scale, or how they were moved around the island.

Phases of Island Culture Archaeological excavations of Easter Island reveal three distinct cultural phases: the early period (700-850 A.D.), the middle period (1050-1680) and the late period (post-1680). Between the early and middle periods, evidence has shown that many early statues were deliberately destroyed and rebuilt as the larger and heavier moai for which the island is most famous. During the middle period, ahus also contained burial chambers, and the images portrayed by moai are thought to have represented important figures that were deified after death. The biggest statue found dating to the middle period measures about 32 feet tall, and consists of a single block weighing about 82 tons (74,500 kilograms). The late period of the island’s civilization was characterized by civil wars and general destruction; more statues were toppled, and many mataa, or obsidian spearpoints, have been found dating to that period.

Island tradition claims that around 1680, after peacefully coexisting for many years, one of the island’s two main ethnic groups, known as the Short-Ears, rebelled against the Long-Ears, burning many of them to death on a pyre constructed along an ancient ditch at Poike, on the island’s far northeastern coast. Outsiders on Easter Island The first known European visitor to Easter Island was the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who arrived in 1722. The Dutch named the island Paaseiland (Easter Island) to commemorate the day they arrived. In 1770, the Spanish viceroy of Peru sent an expedition to the island; the explorers spent four days ashore and estimated a native population of some 3,000 people. Just four years later, the British navigator Sir James Cook arrived to find Easter Island’s population decimated by what seemed to have been a civil war, with only 600 to 700 men and fewer than 30 women remaining.

A French navigator, Jean-Francois de Galaup, comte de La Perouse, found 2,000 people on the island when he arrived in 1786. A major slave raid from Peru in 1862, followed by epidemics of smallpox, reduced the population to only 111 people by 1877. By that time, Catholic missionaries had settled on Easter Island and begun to convert the population to Christianity, a process that was completed by the late 19th century. In 1888, Chile annexed Easter Island, leasing much of the land for sheep raising. The Chilean government appointed a civilian governor for Easter Island in 1965, and the island’s residents became full Chilean citizens. Easter Island Today An isolated triangle measuring 14 miles long by seven miles wide, Easter Island was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. In addition to its hilly terrain, the island contains many subterranean caves with corridors that extend deep into mountains of volcanic rock.

The island’s largest volcano is known as Rano Kao, and its highest point is Mount Terevaka, which reaches 1,969 feet (600 meters) above sea level. It has a subtropical climate (sunny and dry) and temperate weather. Easter Island boasts no natural harbor, but ships can anchor off Hanga Roa on the west coast; it is the island’s largest village, with a population of roughly 3,300. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage site. It is now home to a mixed population, mostly of Polynesian ancestry and made up of the descendants of the Long-Ears and Short-Ears. Spanish is generally spoken, and the island has developed an economy largely based on tourism. Tags Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information Rapa nui today Clan warfare Recent research suggests that, although islanders were few after Hotu Matua first landed at Anakena, their numbers grew over the centuries, first slowly and then rapidly.

Intensively cultivated gardens yielded an agricultural surplus sufficient to support a priestly class - the artisans and laborers who produced the moai (giant statues) and their ahu (ceremonial platform) - and even a warrior class. However, there were limits to this development and sheer numbers eventually threatened the available resources. Conflict over land and resources erupted in warfare by the late 17th century, only shortly before the European arrival, and the population started to decline. Population estimates for the early 19th century range from 4000 to 20, 000. Dissension between different clans led to bloody wars and cannibalism, and many moai were toppled from their ahu. Natural disasters - earthquakes and tsunamis - may have also contributed to the damage. The only moai standing today have been restored during the last century. ^ Back to top Contact with europeans Spanish vessels entered the Pacific from South America in the early 16th century but on Easter Sunday, 1722, a Dutch expedition under Admiral Jacob Roggeveen brought the first Europeans to set foot on Rapa Nui.

Not until 1770 did Europeans again visit Rapa Nui, when a Spanish party from Peru under Don Felipe González de Haedo claimed the island for Spain and renamed it San Carlos. At the time, most islanders inhabited caves, while others lived in ellip- tical boat-shaped houses. The islanders' only weapons were sharp obsidian knives. The absence of goods and metal implements suggested no commerce with the outside world, but gardens with sugar cane, sweet potatoes, taro and yams provided a healthy subsistence. In 1774 the celebrated Englishman Captain James Cook led the next European expedition to land on Rapa Nui. Cook, familiar with the people of the Society Islands, Tonga and New Zealand , concluded that the inhabitants of Rapa Nui belonged to the same general lineage. His account is the first to mention that, although some moai still stood and carried their topknots, others had fallen and their ahu were damaged. Only one other 18th-century European, the Frenchman La Perouse, visited Rapa Nui in 1786, coming from Chile .

In 1804 a Russian visitor reported more than 20 moai still standing, including some at the southern coastal site of Vinapu. Existing accounts from ensuing years suggest another period of destruction, so that perhaps only a handful of moai stood a decade later. ^ Back to top European colonization Whether or not the people of Rapa Nui experienced a period of self-inflicted havoc, their discovery by the outside world nearly resulted in their annihilation. By the late 18th century European and North American entrepreneurs saw the Pacific as an unexploited 'resource frontier.' First came the whalers, followed by planters who set out to satisfy an increasing European demand for tropical commodities such as rubber, sugar and coffee. Then came slavers who either kidnapped Polynesians or induced them to sign contracts to work in mines and plantations in lands as remote as Australia and Peru . The worst example of this occurred in 1862, when Peruvian slavers made a ruthless raid on Rapa Nui and took about a thousand islanders - including the king - to work the guano deposits on Peru 's Chincha Islands.

After Bishop Jaussen of Tahiti protested to the French representative at Lima , Peruvian authorities ordered the return of the islanders to their homeland, but disease and hard labor had already killed about 90% of them. On the return voyage, smallpox killed most of the rest, and the handful who survived brought back an epidemic that decimated the remaining inhabitants of the island, leaving only a few hundred traumatized survivors. The knowledge and culture lost has never been fully regained. Another disaster came in the form of the Catholic missionaries. In the mid-1860s they converted the few remaining islanders, suppressing and degrading local customs and practices. Commercial exploitation of the island began in 1870 when the French adventurer Jean-Baptiste Dutroux-Bornier introduced the wool trade to Rapa Nui. Importing sheep, he intended to transform the entire island into a ranch and expel the islanders to the plantations of Tahiti . The missionaries, who planned to ship the islanders to mission lands in southern Chile or the Mangarevas, opposed his claims to ultimate sovereignty over the island and its people. Dutroux-Bornier raided the missionary settlements and forced the missionaries to evacuate.

Most reluctantly accepted transportation to Tahiti and the Mangarevas, leaving about a hundred people on the island. Dutroux-Bornier ruled until the remaining islanders killed him in 1877. ^ Back to top Annexation by chile Chile officially annexed the island in 1888 during a period of expansion that included the acquisition of territory from Peru and Bolivia after the War of the Pacific (1879-84). By 1897 Rapa Nui had fallen under the control of a single wool company, which became the island's de facto government, continuing the wool trade until the middle of the 20th century. In 1953 the government took charge of the island, continuing the imperial rule to which islanders had been subject for nearly a century. Rapa Nui remained under military rule until the mid-1960s, followed by a brief period of civilian government until the military coup of 1973 once again brought direct military control.

In the 1960s the islanders' grievances included unpaid labor, travel restrictions, suppression of the Rapanui language, ineligibility to vote (Chilean universal suffrage did not extend to Rapa Nui) and arbitrary naval administration. However, 1967 was a turning point; the establishment of a regular commercial air link between Santiago and Tahiti , with Rapa Nui as a refueling stop, opened up the island to the world and brought many benefits to Rapa Nui people. ^ Back to top Rapa nui today Despite being 3700km from the mainland, Rapa Nui is considered part of the region of Valparaíso . Some islanders speak hopefully of autonomy, and even independence, but ongoing economic reliance on mainland Chile renders this unlikely in the foreseeable future. The main claim is for the return of native lands. Native Rapanui control almost no land outside Hanga Roa. A national park declared in 1935 comprises more than a third of the island, and nearly all the remainder belongs to Chile .

Native groups have asked the Chilean government and the UN to return the park to aboriginal hands, or at least to give them control of the resources to preserve the heritage sites. In late 1996 the Frei administration agreed to return about 1500 hectares of land to islanders from the state development company Corfo. The Rapanui are also concerned about the development and control of the tourism industry. Tourism is keeping up, but not booming - approximately 40, 000 visitors come to the island each year. Easter Island | South America Tours & Travel DAY 1: Arrival transfer in Easter Island Arrival into Easter Island and transfer to your hotel. . DAY 1: Easter Island | Arrival in Easter Island UNESCO World Heritage Listed Easter Island is a remote volcanic island that lies in the Pacific Ocean some 3,700kms to the west of Chile. One of the most isolated places on earth and one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is famed for its archaeological sites that include around 900 moai statues.

These carved human figures were created during the 10th-16th centuries and many are found resting on massive rock altars. . DAY 1: Easter Island Entrance Fee . DAY 2: Easter Island Anakena with Lunch Most of Easter Islands 900 moai come from the slopes of the Rano Raraku volcano and it is here on the South Coast of the island that we head for our first stop today. We will see more than 300 of the volcanic stone statues that were produced by skilled craftsman between the year 1000 and 1680. Lunch will be enjoyed at the base of the volcano before we continue to the Tongariki Platform and Te Pito Kura where we find the island's biggest moai. In the afternoon we make our way to Anakena beach where pure white sand and calm waters make it an ideal place to swim and relax. It is also probably the only beach in the world that boasts two important archaeological sites, Ahu Ature Huki and Ahu Nau Nau which you are free to explore. At the end of the day we head inland in order to return to Hanga Roa Toen. Includes lunch. .

DAY 3: Easter Island Orongo We set off for the Orongo village which sits on the edge of the extinct volcano Rano Kau. The village which consists of 54 stone houses is believed to have been a ceremonial centre for the birdman culture from the 16th century until its abandonment in the mid-19th century. In addition to its incredible natural beauty, the site boasts a high number of petroglyphs depicting tangat manu - the birdman. This is a truly a magical place where the views will memorise you and the stories and legends will intrigue you. . DAY 3: Easter Island Ahu Akivi We head to Ahu Akivi the site of the seven moai. The sculptures which are close to 4.5 metres tall, are thought to represent the seven young explores sent to scope out the island before the arrival of Horu Matu and his people. We will also visit Pun-a-Pau quarry from where the Pukao cylindrical hats were sourced . The 1 - 2 metre cylindas weighed between nine and twenty tonnes and were rolled down hill to the moai sites. .

DAY 4: Transfer to airport for your onward destination Transfer to the airport for your outward flight from Easter Island. . Chimu Adventures undertakes a number of sustainability measures within its operations including: 1) Only using local guides and office staff to both maximise local employment opportunities and minimise carbon footprints. Local guides also ensure you benefit from the intimate knowledge, passion and culture of the country you’re visiting. 2) Where possible, using locally owned and operated boutique hotels to maximise the return to the local community. 3) Chimu’s “Pass it on” programme has provided funding to hundreds of local community projects in Latin America. Our aim is to empower local communities, helping them to develop their own infrastructure for the future. Since 2006, we have been working with Kiva (a well-known Non-Governmental Organisation), providing hundreds of loans to local businesses all over South America. 4) In our pre tour information we provide a range of tips and advice on how to minimise your impact on both local environments and communities. 5) Chimu Adventures’ offices also take a number of sustainability measures including carbon offsets for company vehicles and most staff travel.

Chimu Adventure’s internal processes are also structures to create a paperless office and to reduce waste. There are also internal programmes to help staff minimise their carbon footprint such as our staff bike purchase assistance plan which encourages office staff to commute to work via bicycle. Currently almost half of our office based staff commute to work via bicycle. Find out more about sustainability in: Chile Easter Island Chile | andBeyond Easter Island Easter Island Silently standing vigil over small Easter Island, the stone-faced moai are undoubtedly the highlight of this mystical destination. Home to a community of just 5 000 inhabitants, Easter Island or Rapa Nui, as it is known to locals, is a Chilean territory in Polynesia. It has one national park, the Parque Nacional Rapa Nui which covers most of the Island and features the quarry of Rano Raraku where the moai were carved, the volcanic crater of the Rano Kau and the Ahu Tongariki where 15 moai rest. Easter Island has a colourful history where it was first explored by outsiders in 1722 and named by Dutch naval commander Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday.

It was also where Captain Cook and his crew recuperated during one of his many explorations and where, in 1805, a vicious raid by slave traders left a scar in the community. Regardless of its size there is much to do here from scuba diving and snorkelling to cycling and horse riding. Why Visit The average daily temperature is 26°C/78°F Winter (June to September) The average daily temperature is 20°C/68°F The winters are relatively mild and May is the rainiest month, however, the island does experience rainfall year-round. Due to its remote location, the island is exposed to winds. Fast Facts Best time to travelYear round. Peak season is from January to March, with the world-famous, not-to-be-missed Tapati festival taking place in February. WildlifeDue to its extreme location, Easter Island does not support a wide variety of wildlife, but birding enthusiasts can look out for the native seabirds. Travelling with ChildrenWith its wide assortment of outdoor adventure activities, Easter Island is an excellent family destination that appeals to all ages. LanguagesThe official language of Easter Island is Spanish; however most of the Rapanui speak Rapa Nui.

Basic English is spoken by most people working on the Island. Guest SafetyGiven its remote location, Easter Island is safe; however, guests are always advised to keep an eye on their personal belongings and to remain vigilant at all times. Flying to Easter IslandThere are seven weekly flights from Santiago to Mataveri International Airport in Hanga Roa (5hr 25min). Activities Hiking, cycling, horseback riding and caving for the adventure enthusiasts Scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing on the rugged coastlines Boat trips from Hanga Roa harbour to the Motus Local craft market with Polynesian artifacts and stone or wood carvings Traditional dance performances showcasing the Rapa Nui culture Tapati Rapa Nui Festival in February is the island’s most important cultural festival Fascinating archaeological tours of the island and its dormant volcanoes and hidden caves Featured Partner Lodge A spectacular hotel, featuring award-winning architecture, just outside of Hanga Roa, on Easter Island. More Places to go in Chile World-renowned for its extraordinary mix of untamed landscapes, Patagonia is an absolute must-see when travelling to Chile. Ready to start planning your adventure?

Question: Easter Island (Rapa Nui) belongs to which country?
Answer: Chile